The Boise man had part of his right leg amputated in 2013, more than a year after an IED explosion in Afghanistan left him with several injuries.

Earlier this year, Linville became the first combat-wounded veteran to reach the top of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.

"If I could tell you one thing in life, never give up, never let anybody say 'I can't' or tell you ‘you can't do something,’ and wake up every day, and choose happiness as a choice, and tell somebody - at least your own self – say I'm going to show you how great I am, because each and every one of you is capable of anything you want to do," said Linville.

It was a full house at the assembly and the crowd gave Linville a standing ovation after his remarks.

After dance performances representing eras from World War I to the global war on terror, Kuna High students wrapped up the assembly by personally thanking veterans in attendance.